Garden tractor



H. W. CESAN GARDEN TRACTOR `hun. 22, 1952 2 SHEETS-SHEET l Filed Oct. 25, 1949 H. w. CESAN GARDEN TRACTOR Jan. 22, 1952 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 Filed Oct. 25, 1949 M R .o m N n EW V mw I l .Il

ATTORNEYS Patented Jan. 22, 1952 l UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE GARDEN moron Harry W. Celan, Feeding Hills. Mass. Application october 2s, 1949. Serial Nn. 123,520

This invention relates to garden tractors and particularly to a new tractor vehicle for hand weeding', hand picking and hand transplanting as well as for driving garden plowing and cultivating attachments.

An object of the invention is to provide a powerdriven vehicle4 which will leave an operatorshands free for manual garden work and position" the operator near enough to the ground for such hand work.

Another object of the invention `is to provide a novel driving mechanism which requires only the movement of a single lever to drive the vehicle forward or backward.

A further object of the invention is to provide an economical and useful vehicle of rugged construction for truck garden work.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following description and in the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is a top plan view of a vehicle constructed in accordance with my invention, the engine having been omitted from the view for purposes of clarity;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of Fig. 1 with the shifting lever partly broken away to better show parts behind it;

Fig. 3 is a rear end view of the vehicle shown in Fig. -l with an engine mounted thereon;

Fig. 4 is a front end view of Fig. l;

Fig. 5 is a section taken on line '5-5 of Fig. l;

Fig.l6 is a section taken on line B-B of Fig. 1:

Fig.17 is a fragmentary detail of the. clutch shifter mechanism; and

Fig.;8 is a detail view on line 8 8 of Fig. l.

The' new vehicle has an extendable frame `generally; designated by reference numeral III and shownin extended position in- Fig. 2.

Fraine In has laterally spaced longitudinal side; channel iron members Il and l2 each of which contain spaced ybolt holes Il. Extension strips I4 with like spaced bolt holes I5 are bolted to 'members Ii and I2 to hold these members together and for adjustability to different lengths.

Strips IB (see Fig.` 1) are welded at their forward ends to the backs of channel members I2 and extend inwardly and rearwardly of the frame a short length, then rearwardly parallel with side channel members I2. Braces I1 are provided near the bend in strips I6 and connect members I2 and strips IB. Short channel iron struts Il (see Fig. 3) connect the rear ends of strips II with the rear ends of the side channel 2 Claims. (Cl. 1811-1) -axle II.

members I2. Stationary axles I9 are supported between side members I2 and the parallel portionsof strips Il, the ends of the axles being fixed thereto. On the axles are mounted the rear traction wheels I9 of the vehicle.

Vertical braces 20 extend upwardly from strips I6 and side members I2 adjacent said wheels and attached at the upper ends of the braces are horizontal drive support angle iron members'l and 22 running crosswise of the fra-me. Horizontal bearing support members as angle irons 23 and 24 extend longitudinally of the frame and are fixed between the members 2| and 22. At the front end, of the vehicle. upright channel iron members 2l are iixed at the forward ends of 'side members II and a horizontal angle iron cross piece 2G is xed between the upper ends of upright members 2l. Spaced rearwardly adiacentmembers 25 are additional vertical supports 21 having a horizontal angle iron member 28 joining their upper ends and extending across the frame parallel to cross piece 28.

Attached to cross members 2i and 28 and centrally thereof is a beam 29 extending longitudinally of the frame with one end forwardly of cross member 26. On the forward end portion of beam 28 is rigidly mounted a downwardly directed bracket 30. A tubular axle 3| is pivotably held ln bracket I0 by a pin 32 extending through the sides of the bracket and through the Shafts 33 (see Figs. land 4) fixed to front wheel forks I4 extend through tubular axle Il near its ends.' Stationary stub axles 35 are held between the ends of forks 34 with front wheels 3G freely rotatable thereon.

The steering mechanism for the front wheels is provided inthe following manner: Rigidly attached to theLupper ends of shafts 23 are p bell cranks 31 (Eig. l). The forwardly extending arm of each I.bell crank 3l is pivotally connected by a pine (Fig. 4) to one of the two end fittings 38 ofi a tie rod 40 so that the two front wheels 36 turn in unison.

The ends of the laterally extending arms of bell cranks 31 (Fig. 1) are pivotally connected by pins 4I (Fig. 2) to the forward ends of steering rods 42. At the rear end of steering rods 42 are ball and socket joints 43 of the usual construction. From the ball of the joint an integral stud 46 extends at one side through the casing. The upper ends of two steering levers 49 are securely attached to the studs 48 and held as by nuts 50 on the studs. The ball and socket joints allow full and free pivoting of pipe axle Il on bracket pin I2.

Between upright members 25 and 21 (Fig. 2) are fixed pivot plates on which the levers 48 are fulcrumed as by pivot pins 52 attached -to these plates 5|.

The lower end portions of levers 48 carry pedal adjustment holes 53 in which the mounting pins of foot pedals 84 are fixed to the levers 49. Thus the apparatus is steered solely by an operators feet through the pivoting of the levers 48.

In the rear portion of the frame a seat holding bracket 55 is centrally attached to cross member 2|. Adjustably held in bracket 55 as by a set screw 55 is a vertically depending seat adjustment shaft 51. A seat 88 is fixed at the lower end of shaft 51 by a lock bolt 58. By raising or lowering shaft 51 and fixing the same by set screw 58 the operator can raise or lower the seat for any desired height with relation to the ground.

The preferred driving mechanism for the new vehicle will now be described in detail: An engine or motor 50 with shaft 5| (Fig. 3) is mounted on cross members 2| and 22 of the frame. On the end of the shaft 8| a drive sprocket 82 is attached. Motor 80 preferably drives through a gear reduction unit 83 so that shaft 8| may have a relatively low speed.

Mounted on bearing support members 23 and 24 (Fig. l) are pillow blocks 84 which support a rotatable shaft 85 (see Figs. 3 and 5). Pivotally but not rotatably mounted on shaft 85 is a rocking upright web member 88. A pulley 81 is also pinned on shaft 88 and to one side of member 88 and a stepped pulley sheave 88 is fastened to shaft 88 on the other side of member 85.

A portion of web member 88 is cut away to form an opening 88 in member 88 and, freely rotatable with shaft 85 in this opening. is a differential drive shaft sprocket 10. pinned to shaft 55.

Fixed to the rear cross member 22 (Fig. 3) of the frame are a series of vertically disposed pillow blocks 1| supporting rotatable horizontal shafts 12. The inner ends of shafts 12 are attached to a differential which has a differential driving gear sprocket 14 (Fig. 6). Sprocket 14 is driven through chain 15 by sprocket 10 fixed to shaft 85.

At the outer ends of shafts 12 are wheel driving sprockets 18 (Fig. 3) pinned to the shafts 12 and rotatable with them. Larger sprockets 11v are,attached to the inner hubs of the rear wheels and these wheels are driven through chains 18 between wheel sprockets 11 and driving sprockets 15 of shafts 12.

Differential 18 permits either one of the rear wheels to travel faster than the other on turning. It may be of any conventional arrange- :ment as a spider gear differential construction.

The upper end of the pivotal rocking member, web 88, supports a short pintle 18 (see Fig'. 6) and on pintle 18 is an H-shaped cross member 88 having elongated bearing sleeves at each outer end. A short rotatable forward drive shaft 8| extends through the sleeve at the forward end of member 88.

Fixed to the end of shaft 8| nearest the motor 50 is a sprocket 82 (Fig. l) which is driven through a chain 85 by driving sprocket 52 on motor shaft 8| (see Figs. 3 and 6). A gear 84 is pinned to the other end of shaft 8| (see Figs. 1 and 5) for a reverse gear train of the transmission as will be described.

Adiacent driven sprocket 82 on shaft 8| and also fixed on the shaft is a stepped sheave 85 which drives by a belt 88 sheave 88 fixed to shaft 85. Shaft 85 in turn drives shafts 12 through differential 13 and in turn sprockets 18 on shafts 12 drive the rear wheels forward through chains 18 and sprockets 11. Different speeds may be obtained by putting the belt 85 in different steps on the stepped sheaves 88 and 85.

In the sleeve at the rear end of H-shaped member is a short rotatable reverse drive shaft 81 (Figs. 5 and 3) and attached to the end of this shaft 81 furthermost from the motor 80 is a reverse gear 88 (Fig. 2) which meshes with gear 84 pinned to the end of shaft 8|. Adjacent reverse gear 88 on shaft 81 is a pulley 88 (Fig. 5) xed to the shaft 81 so as to revolve with it.

Pulley 88 may drive pulley 81 on shaft 85 when belt 80 between the two pulleys is tightened. When shaft is driven through pulley 81 it rotates in a reverse direction than that which it has when driven through sheave 88. The differential 13 is thus driven in a. reverse direction.

When reverse drive belt 80 is tightened, forward drive belt 88 is loosened and vice versa. This is accomplished by the shifting of a single clutch" lever 8| linked to the H-shaped member 88 on web 88 in a manner now to be described.

Attached rigidly to the H-shaped member 80 is one end of an inverted U-shaped shifting bar 82 (Fig. 3). Fork straps 83 are fastened to the other end of bar 82 and between the lower ends of straps 83 is a small block 84 having trunnions or pins 85 extending through holes in the straps 83.

A shifting rod 88 (Figs. 2 and 8) slidably fits through a central hole in block 84 and springs 81 on the rod 98 abut opposite sides of block 84. The springs 81 are held in abutment by nuts 98 on threaded portions of rod 88. The other end of rod 88 is threaded and held in a threaded bracket 88 on shifting lever 8|.

A vertical shifting lever support |00 (Fig. 2) is rigidly attached to side channel frame member |2 and at the upper end of the lever support |80 is an arcuate notched member |0|. A similar arcuate member |02 is at the lower end of lever support |00.

Shifting lever 8| is mounted on and pivots on pin |03 extending through the shifting lever 8| and support |00. On lever 8|, adjacent to the arcuate member |0| is a stop projection |04. Pivot pin |03 has a head |05 (Fig. 8), and between the head and the lever 8| is a spring |08 so that lever 8| may be pulled outwardly from support |00 and pivoted to another notch in member |0| to seat stop |04 on release of the lever. Member |0| contains three notches. 4The middle notch is for the neutral position of the lever. Both forward drive belts 88 and reverse drive belt 80 are loose and out of driving position.

The forward notch is for the forward movement and in this position of the lever the H- shaped member 80 on web 86 is pivoted so as to move forward drive shaft 8| upward and backward to tighten forward drive belt 88 and at the same time lower reverse drive shaft 81 and loosen the reverse drive belt 80.

The rear notch is for a reverse drive, the lever in this position having moved member 80 to loosen drive belt 88 and tighten reverse belt 80.

A chain tightener |05 (Figs. l and 6) maintains chain 83 taut between motor shaft sprocket 8l and driven sprocket 52 on shaft 8|. The

assaass tishtener has a threaded socket III pivotally attached to frame cross member 2l and a rod member Ill one end of which is threaded and ilts into socket i" and the other end of which is pivotally attached to a bracket of member It as shown.

A throttle handle lill is pivoted at III on a bracket Il! nxed to cross member 2l.- A flange projection lil on the opposite side of pivot ill receives an end of a Bowden wire H4. Wire H4 actuates the usual motor throttle, not-shown, as will be readily understood.

It `will be noted from the relative position of seat Il on the tractor as shown by the drawings that the trunk of an operator's body will extend higher than the frame structure at the front end. This leaves the operators arms and hands free to work on either side of the machine. or immediately in front of him on the ground below the tractor. Steering is accomplished by foot pressure on the pedals Il. A tray as indicated at Il! may rest over the front frame to carry tools, supplies, etc., or for carrying a supply of plants for transplanting. It may also be used to store produce being harvested. If desired a tray as at Ill at closer range to the operator may also be provided for the same purposes as by hooking the same by a hanger II1 over cross member 2l as indicated in Fig. 2.

The adjustable seat post 51 may be raised from its position immediately adjacent ground level or even inverted in support 55 to provide a relatively high perch on which to handle tall crops such as corn, tomatoes and vines, or the like. For the relatively higher positions of the seat above the frame structure, the foot pedals shown in the drawings may be provided with extensions from levers 4I so that an operator may easily guide the tractor with his feet.

Cultivators and other attachments for truck garden work may be fixed on the front frame structure of the tractor as cross member 28 and vertical supports 21. This enables an operator to guide the implements closely for work over a row or between rows of planting. Y

Having disclosed my invention, I claim:

1. In a tractor oi' the type described having a rearframe and front frame, a pair of laterally spaced wheels supporting each frame, laterally spaced longitudinal side frame members connecting said frames, steering mechanism on said front frame, laterally spaced foot pedal operated members immediately adjacent the rear of said front wheels and secured to said steering mechanism for actuating said mechanism, a seat suspended from said rear frame forwardly thereof between the side frame members and means associated with said seat to secure said seat in vertically adjusted position from a position im. mediately adjacent ground'level toa position elevated above said side frame members, the rear wheel, front wheel and foot pedal at each side oi' the tractor being in alignment with each other, each of the wheels of said frames having an independent mounting with itscorresponding frame, a laterally extending frame portion for eachpairofwheellandinclevatedpoaitionadjacent 4the top of said wheels respectively and connecting said spaced wheel mountings of each frame, the side frame members and portions of the iront and rear frames connected to said side frame members being at a level below the top portions of said wheels, whereby said tractor is adapted to straddle a row of planting with an operator on the seat in lowered position having clear access for manual work at eachside, above and on the ground in front of said seat.

2. In a tractor of the type described having a rear frame with laterally spaced wheels and a motor and reversible drive belt mechanism mounted on `said rear frame and connected to drive the rear wheels in either direction, a front frame with laterally spaced wheels in alignment with the rear wheels, apparatus mounted on said front frame to steer the i'ront wheels, spaced longitudinally extending side frame members connecting said trames, the said spaced side members including elongated extensions adjustably ilxed to said frames, an operators seat mounted on the rear frame and suspended centrally between said side frame members, means associated with said seat to secure said seat in vertically adjusted position froma position immediately adjacent ground level to an elevated position above said side members, laterally spaced foot pedal members connected to said steering apparatus in spaced relation from `said seat and rearwardly adjacent the front wheels and in position for an operator on the seat to manipulate while in normal sitting psition, an independent wheel fork mounting for each of said wheels and each of said mountings secured to its adjacent frame and journalling a corresponding one of said wheels, a laterally extending frame portion for each pair of said fork mountings and connecting the upper section of each pair of forks, the portions of said frames joining the said wheel fork portions being in elevated position adjacent the top or said wheels and in position for said wheels and frame structures to straddle a planting row, said elongated side members providing clear access for manual work at each side above and on the ground in front of said seat.

HARRY W. CESAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 813,028 Duvall Oct. 25, 1898 1,582,781 Prenosil Apr. 27, 1926 2,281,354 Fee Nov. 4, 1941 2,378,847 Harris June 19, 1945 2,445,797 Moore July 27, 1948 2,511,940 Platt et al. June 20, 1950 2,514,249 Madsen July 4, 1950 2,520,835 England Aug. 29, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 177,017 Oct. 23, 1906 

